Friday, February 06, 2009

Going postal

I walked into the local post office, in need of a book of stamps. Approaching the self-service kiosk, I spied only one person ahead of me in line. This wouldn't take long. A minute or so later, the woman appeared to be finished with her postal chores. She retrieved her credit card and stepped away from the machine. But then, she turned back, her gaze centering on the kiosk's screen. "Thank you for your purchase," it read. The woman raised her hand in a half-wave toward the machine and said, "Thank you." Then this gracious customer walked out the door.

As you know, my flock, I wear a few gray hairs on my beard. And like many old-timers, I sometimes question the direction of modern man. Common courtesy and good manners often seem to be in short supply. But in this instant, in this brief exchange between woman and machine, my faith in the decency (and the peculiarity) of humanity was restored.

8 comments:

JMG said...

I do that sort of thing when I'm at the Kroger and have to use the self check out, but I'm usually not saying "thank you" in a friendly way.

Anonymous said...

That's funny!

Sarah said...

I do that sort of thing too and people look at me and snort. Then Ria will lick the machine and we have to make a run for it.

Anonymous said...

This lady is just planting some good will for the future. I am pretty sure computers will run the whole world before long. They probably are recording everything said to them. Don't let it happen to your kingdom, Ayatollah!

Nevis said...

I say the same thing to ATM machines when they give me money.

Jan said...

I work with a woman who says "excuse me" if she bumps into a desk or chair.

Bogart H. Devil said...

Hehehe, I caught my mama doing that once at a postage kiosk. Yes, it looked to me like she tucked tail and got that "what did I do?" look on her face.

Love,
Bogart

Ayatollah Mugsy said...

It is good to see that the congregation is so courteous to machines.